John Saunderson Explained
John Saunderson (born 31 May 1948) is a former Australian politician and trade unionist. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1983 to 1990, representing the electorates of Deakin (1983–84) and Aston (1984-90).
Early life
Saunderson was born on 31 May 1948 in Slough, England. He was a senior technical officer for Telecom from 1964 to 1980, state president of the Australian Telecommunications Employees Association from 1976 to 1980, and an industrial officer for the union from 1980 until 1983.[1]
Political career
In 1983, Saunderson was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Deakin, and in 1984 successfully contested the new seat of Aston. A convenor of the Labor Left faction in the later years of the Hawke government, Saunderson was a consistent opponent of attempts to privatise government assets, opposed uranium sales to France, played a significant role in the defeat of the Australia Card by opposing his own government's bill as a member of the select committee into it, supported restricting negative gearing to assist first-home buyers, heavily criticised the Cain state government over its handling of tramway disputes, supported broadcasting legislation reform in response to the Alan Bond scandal, opposed liberalising foreign ownership of television stations, and supported the introduction of pay television.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
He was defeated by Liberal candidate Peter Nugent at the 1990 election amidst a large anti-Labor swing related to the collapse of the State Bank of Victoria.[19] [20]
Later activities
After his defeat, Saunderson returned to his old union, which became the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, as a policy and research officer and then industrial officer.[21] [22]
Notes and References
- Web site: Biography for SAUNDERSON, John . Parliament of Australia . 17 July 2021.
- News: POLITICS . . 2483 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 August 1987 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Airline sale not on, says Left . . 63 . 19,516 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 15 March 1989 . 17 July 2021 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Privatisation debate 'diverting' the ALP . . 62 . 19,144 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 5 March 1988 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Hawke told to leave Telecom a public utility . . 64 . 20,155 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 18 June 1990 . 17 July 2021 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Cook and Punch make Ministry but no surprises in Hawke's first reshuffle since last election Richardson, Duffy in Cabinet . . 62 . 19,099 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 20 January 1988 . 17 July 2021 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Left's uranium move 'will fail' . . 62 . 19,094 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 15 January 1988 . 17 July 2021 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
- News: CIVIL LIBERTIES . . 2450 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 November 1986 . 17 July 2021 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
- News: ID card gets caucus go-ahead . . 60 . 18,509 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 5 June 1986 . 17 July 2021 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
- News: ID card seems doomed . . 60 . 18,508 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 4 June 1986 . 17 July 2021 . 30 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Labor MPs to meet over interest rates . . 63 . 19,632 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 9 July 1989 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Media trustee plan for Bond . . 63 . 19,588 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 26 May 1989 . 17 July 2021 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
- News: ABT options on Bond licences 'ludicrous' . . 63 . 19,509 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 8 March 1989 . 17 July 2021 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Media-ownerships proposal canned . . 64 . 20,024 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 7 February 1990 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Plan to change Broadcasting Act . . 64 . 20,023 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 6 February 1990 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Labor MPs angry over moves on TV . . 64 . 20,020 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 3 February 1990 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Cain under siege over trams . . 64 . 19,998 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 12 January 1990 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- News: Parliament . . 64 . 17,777 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 1 December 1989 . 17 July 2021 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
- Web site: Carr . Adam . Australian Election Archive . Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive . 2008 . 2008-06-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070717093439/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/ . 17 July 2007 .
- Web site: 2019 Election Guide: Aston . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 17 July 2021 . Green, Antony.
- News: Sharing the 6th channel? . . 22 . 2 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 March 1992 . 17 July 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
- Web site: Details of Meetings . Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees . 17 July 2021.